Transcript Highlights:

• Moving on to our cash management update and our budget discussion.
• So when we plan our budgets going forward, that plays into our budget planning, knowing that our revenues
• So when we plan our budgets going forward, that plays into our budget planning, knowing that our revenues
• we work with the governor's office on his budget planning.
• This is what we use to plan all of our budgets.

Summary: The Water Topics Overview Committee met to receive interim status updates on several water-related studies and Department of Water Resources projects. The committee approved the March 26, 2026 minutes, observed a moment of silence for the late Representative Conmy, and then heard updates on the watershed management study and the stormwater/wastewater study. Staff reported that the committee had already received the testimony contemplated in the study plans, including input from state agencies, local governments, and out-of-state entities, and that any further action would be at the committee’s discretion. The Department of Water Resources then provided project and budget updates on NAWS and the Southwest Pipeline Project. Reese reported NAWS is expected to serve about 81,000 users, with a total projected cost of about $571 million and about $96 million remaining, while the Southwest Pipeline Project is estimated at $1.06 billion total with about $409 million remaining. Members asked about funding sources, capacity needs, and whether current and future construction is being designed for increased demand; department staff said current work is designed for ultimate capacity, but some future components may need redesign based on new requests. The committee also discussed local cost shares, Minot’s role in NAWS funding, and whether the system is adequate for peak demand. A major portion of the meeting focused on the department’s cash management, carryover, and long-term water funding outlook. The department said Resources Trust Fund revenues are tied to oil extraction taxes and are affected by stripper well exemptions and future oil price declines. Members expressed concern about large carryover balances and whether the state is obligating more money than can realistically be spent in a biennium. The department reported about $340.6 million in remaining carryover and said it is trying to reduce that through a two-tier pre-construction/construction process and closer project vetting. The department also summarized the Deloitte studies on regional governance and finance and on cost-share policy. Stakeholders generally favored keeping the current governance structures for NAWS and Southwest with improvements, while Red River stakeholders leaned toward a different option; the department said it will bring an implementation plan back in September. On cost share, Deloitte’s recommendations would reduce some percentages, prioritize projects differently, and use other measures to close a projected long-term funding gap. Members debated affordability, local burden, deferred maintenance, and whether statutory changes may be needed to allow the commission more flexibility in prioritizing and funding projects. No formal votes or final actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving the updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• And democracy is hard, particularly so during budget challenges.
• And when we have budget issues and we don't prioritize the budget first in a session, it sets us up to
• not properly budget.
• We request that senators be here promptly.
• And would we request that senators be here promptly.

Summary: The Senate convened for the opening day of the 2026 session with roll call, presentation of colors by the Washington State Patrol Honor Guard, the Pledge of Allegiance, a signed national anthem by River Ridge High School ASL students, and an invocation. The President welcomed new Senator Victoria Hunt and noted the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, emphasizing the challenges of democracy and the need for grace and respect. The Senate then received certification of the November 2025 election results and administered the oath of office to newly elected Senators Emily Alvarado, Victoria Hunt, Deborah Krishnadasan, Tina Orwall, and Vandana Slatter. The chamber adopted Senate Resolution 8660 to notify the Governor that the Senate was organized and ready for business, confirmed the committee appointed to deliver that message, and adopted Senate Resolution 8663 making minor rule changes. The President also confirmed the 2026 Senate standing committee memberships. During first reading and referral, several bills and measures were introduced and sent to committees, including bills on toxicology testing, supplemental leave benefits for public employees, crime victims and witnesses, and fire code administration, along with Senate Concurrent Resolution 8407 establishing cutoff dates. Senate Concurrent Resolution 8407 was debated, with support arguing it set the session’s schedule for efficient work and opposition criticizing the traditional budget-and-policy sequence and calling for budget-first reform. The resolution passed. The Senate then received House Concurrent Resolutions 4406 and 4407, adopted both, and heard messages from the Governor’s office, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of the Senate, including provisional certifications of initiatives and transmitted bills. The session concluded with notice of an upcoming joint session and committee meeting, and the Senate adjourned until the next legislative day.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair calls Jeb Bell with the Legislative Budget Board. Mr. Bell.
• I'd like to provide some insight on our request for the upcoming biennium.
• Total budget? Our total budget is $65 billion for the biennium.
• No, our baseline budget remains the same. OK. You're asking a lot in your.
• We are not requesting any salary increases. A lot of new FTEs, sorry.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to each annually... ...Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting
• The budget process starts in the fall when agencies submit their request...
• The budget process starts in the fall when agencies submit their request to the governor's office, which
• The budget process starts in the fall when agencies submit their request to the governor's office, which
• The budget process starts in the fall when agencies submit their request process starts in the fall when

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee approved the March 16, 2026 minutes and then heard testimony on several bills, with the chair noting that votes would be taken in batches because members were coming and going. HB 2939 would increase the rural qualified facilities tax credit from $20,000 to $25,000 per job for certain projects with initial investment under $2 billion; Lucid Motors supported it as a rural economic development tool, while Senator Epstein questioned the fiscal note and whether the higher credit would actually attract new investment. HB 2950 would authorize tourism improvement areas funded by voluntary lodging assessments to support marketing and tourism promotion; the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association and Visit Phoenix backed it as a competitive tool for rural and urban destinations, and committee members focused on whether participation was truly voluntary and how the assessments would be administered. HB 2780 made technical conforming changes to Arizona’s property tax lien foreclosure and excess proceeds sale process, building on a prior law that created a mechanism for delinquent property owners to recover equity; the sponsor and a longtime constituent said the changes would fix timing and credit-bid language so qualified entity sales could work in practice. HB 2502 would let certain elected officials in ASRS retire at normal retirement age without resigning their office, with the employer paying the alternate contribution rate; ASRS said it was neutral, and the sponsor argued the bill would treat elected officials more like other ASRS members. The committee then adopted do-pass recommendations for HB 2502, HB 2780, HB 2950, and HB 2939, with each passing on split votes. The committee also adopted a striker to HB 2140, allowing the State Treasurer to invest up to 10% of state trust and treasury monies in physical gold or silver bullion held in secure U.S. depositories. The sponsor and the Sound Money Defense League argued it would diversify reserves and hedge against market disruption, while opponents said gold is volatile, costly to store, and not something taxpayers need the state to buy. HB 2140 then passed as amended on a 4-2 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 2398, as amended, which requires commercial liability insurance for watercraft rentals and peer-to-peer boat sharing programs, with supporters saying it addresses uninsured rental boats and law enforcement concerns; the bill passed as amended on a 6-1 vote. The committee also heard HB 2999, a major housing-finance bill creating state affordability infrastructure districts to finance public infrastructure through bonds and assessments; proponents said it would lower housing costs by spreading infrastructure costs over time, while contractors and some senators raised concerns about payment risk, impact-fee treatment, and whether savings would reach homebuyers. After adopting a striker and hearing extensive questions, HB 2999 passed as amended on a 6-1 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am grateful that the members of the Joint Budget Committee initially rejected the request for the additional
• I understand the budget. I care. I understand the budget.
• It won't help our budget. It amendment. It won't help our budget.
• the state budget.
• </c> in the state in the state budget. in the state in the state budget.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's not just this budget area, it's every budget area.
• And it's not just this budget area, it's every budget area.
• c><01:31:52.800><c> every</c><01:31:53.120><c> budget</c> this budget area, it's every budget this budget
• How much of our budget that we passed last year, this current budget, as the budget projections came
• budget, passed last year, this current budget, as<01:37:30.639><c> the</c><01:37:30.880><c> budget</

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We put out a request for proposal, and the response was low.
• It’s advocating for funding to be included in this year’s budget.
• and to exceed the previous request.
• We don't have any concerns with the amount of funding requested.
• I was just wondering if anyone on the panel could speak to what prompted the budget request to go from

Summary: The hearing focused on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) grant program under the Board of State and Community Corrections and related Department of Justice efforts. BSCC reported that it now administers 36 MMIP grants across three cohorts, with awards ranging from $436,000 to $1 million, plus five collaborative grants at $2 million each, totaling $35.4 million awarded to federally recognized tribes. Testimony from tribal leaders and grantees described how the funding supports prevention, family advocacy, domestic violence services, law enforcement coordination, youth programming, culturally grounded healing, and new tribal public safety positions such as investigators, social workers, and drone operators. Speakers repeatedly emphasized that the crisis is longstanding, tied to generational trauma, and that the grant has helped build trust and infrastructure in tribal communities. Several witnesses and committee members urged continued and preferably ongoing funding, noting that demand now exceeds available one-time money. BSCC and tribal representatives described outreach efforts that increased participation from four applicants in cohort one to 20 in cohort two and more applicants than funding in cohort three. Tribes also raised implementation concerns, especially the burden of quarterly narrative reporting, limited staff capacity, and the need for flexible administration. BSCC said it uses steering committees, separate small- and large-project categories, orientations, monitoring visits, and technical assistance to support grantees. Tribal leaders and advocates stressed that the program should remain accessible without requiring a waiver of tribal sovereignty. The second major topic was DOJ’s update on AB 3099, the Tribal Assistance Program, and the tribal police pilot under AB 134. DOJ officials said the Office of Native American Affairs and the Division of Law Enforcement have been conducting outreach, trainings, listening sessions, and coordination with tribal, local, state, and federal partners to address Public Law 280 jurisdictional issues, improve reporting and data, and support Feather Alert and MMIP-related resources. DOJ said the AB 3099 report is in internal review and that the tribal police pilot is moving forward with the Yurok Tribe as a participant, with a July 1, 2026 start date. DOJ and tribal witnesses said the pilot’s main barriers are cost and, for some tribes, the waiver of sovereign immunity. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with broad support for expanding and sustaining MMIP-related funding and infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• reverse keyword requests and also prohibits Delaware courts from issuing or enforcing those orders.
• The problem with this existing process is that a detainer request can come into play before there has
• We have put together in our budget this year $5 million to cover the cost of this bill.
• This $5 million will continue to be provided in the budget going forward. I think that's right.
• Once that is part of the operating budget, it is included in the operating budget going forward.

Bills: HJR11, HB59, HB418, HB342, HB408, HB409, HB133, HB134, HB414, HB355

Keywords: HOPE Court, homeless court, housing instability, homelessness, poverty elimination, problem-solving court, community court, diversion program, criminal justice reform, reentry, warrants, fines and fees, low-level offenses, housing access, public safety, recidivism, Delaware Judiciary, DSHA, DHSS, DELJIS

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met and heard presentations on several bills. House Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute 1 for House Bill 145 would restrict government use of reverse keyword searches, generally prohibiting reverse keyword court orders and voluntary requests, with a narrow exception for Class A violent felony investigations and rules on notice, deletion, and inadmissibility of unlawfully obtained evidence. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 368, with House Amendment 1, would limit Delaware law enforcement and the Department of Correction’s participation in federal civil immigration enforcement, especially regarding civil immigration warrants and detainers, while preserving exceptions for serious offenses and valid judicial processes; the Department of Correction said it had no operational or fiscal impact and supported the exclusions, and an ACLU-affiliated witness testified in support. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 427 would allow certain 16- and 17-year-olds to participate in hunting and target practice without direct adult supervision if they have parental permission, hunter education, and a valid Delaware hunting license. House Bill 355, the “Speak Your Truth Act,” would expand anti-SLAPP-style protections for survivors of sexual assault, discrimination, and harassment by raising the burden in defamation suits and allowing attorney’s fees and damages; advocates from the National Women’s Defense League and the Speak Your Truth movement supported it. House Bill 134 would increase penalties for repeat animal cruelty offenders and lengthen animal ownership bans. The committee also heard House Bill 133, as amended, which would create a hardship waiver process allowing courts to waive fines and fees for defendants who cannot afford them, while preserving restitution and exempting certain traffic-related penalties and victim compensation assessments. The administration said the bill is intended to address uncollectable debt and noted millions in outstanding fines and fees, while local government and police representatives raised concerns about lost revenue, administrative burden, and consistency; the Fines and Fees Justice Center supported the measure. Committee members asked about how the waiver funding would affect local governments, volunteer fire companies, and related fees, and the administration said the $5 million budgeted this year would cover the waiver costs and be treated as an annual expense going forward. No committee votes were taken during the excerpted discussion, but the chair indicated that bills ready for action would be circulated for signature or moved to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• :06:22.000><c> reducing</c><04:06:22.479><c> opioid</c> budget also calls for reducing opioid budget
• ,</c><04:51:08.080><c> which</c> local DC government DC budget, which local DC government DC budget,
• So, I would have tried to put that billion dollars back into their budget, their own budget.
• </c> bill HR4 to rescend certain budget bill HR4 to rescend certain budget authority<05:15:52.480><c>
• For Christ's sakes, people, the foreign budget is something that's 1% of our budget.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Amending Section 63-802, Idaho Code, to revise provisions regarding limitations of budget requests and
• Consent is requested. Is there objection?
• Consent is requested. Is there objection?
• Unanimous consent has been requested. Is there objection?
• Consent is requested. Is there objection?

Summary: The House began with roll call, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the journal. Members also received communications including the designation of a substitute legislator and committee reports on pending and temporary administrative rules, with several rules approved and some recommended for rejection or exception. The Speaker outlined the day’s plan, noting the chamber would work through orders of business, suspend rules for selected bills, and likely finish for the day before returning the following week. A major floor debate centered on Senate Bill 1397, which would bring certain private sewer districts under Public Utilities Commission oversight for rates and related matters. Supporters argued the bill would protect private property owners in large private sewer districts from monopoly-like control, lack of recourse, and arbitrary rate or hookup decisions. Opponents argued sewer districts are already heavily regulated through DEQ and other requirements, that costs vary by system, and that the bill would expand government and create accountability problems. After debate, the House voted 18-51 with one pair recorded, and the bill failed to pass. The House then passed House Bill 952, the Secretary of State enhancement budget, which included funding for a voter pamphlet on constitutional amendments and initiatives and a 2% ongoing general fund reduction. It also passed Senate Bill 1426, the Idaho Transportation Department enhancement budget, and Senate Bill 1427, the Department of Lands enhancement budget. The chamber also introduced and referred several new bills, including measures on child care, taxation, abatement districts, homestead property tax relief, education, homeowners associations, and appropriations for Fish and Game, species/minerals/energy coordination, and corrections. Later, after recess, the House received additional Senate messages, introduced Senate bills on public health, stable coins, behavioral health, and water resources, and adjourned until Monday, March 30, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has been requested. Is there objection?
• It has been requested. Is there objection?
• Unanimous consent has been requested. Is there objection?
• for ITD's four budgeted divisions.
• It has been requested. Is there objection?

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House opened with roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the journal and received several communications, including the designation of Max Brown as a substitute legislator for District 14. Committee reports summarized review of numerous administrative rules, with Judiciary recommending approval of several Idaho State Police and Sexual Offender Management Board rules and partial rejection of some Office of Administrative Hearings rules, while Health and Welfare recommended approval or extension of most Health and Welfare and DOPL rules but rejection of certain occupational therapy, physical therapy, and child care-related rules as inconsistent with legislative intent. The chamber then handled messages from the Senate and Governor, printed and enrolled multiple bills, and introduced a large slate of new measures. These included House bills on child care, taxation, abatement districts, homestead property tax relief, education, homeowners associations, and several appropriations bills, along with Senate Bill 1435, a major Health and Welfare appropriation bill covering Medicaid, public health, behavioral health, and related programs. The House also received Senate bills on public health, stable coins, and water resources, and advanced several measures to second or third reading. On the floor, the House suspended rules to consider Senate Bill 1397, which would have placed certain private sewer districts under Public Utilities Commission oversight. Supporters argued it would protect property owners in large private sewer districts from monopoly-like control over rates and hookups, while opponents said sewer districts are already heavily regulated by DEQ, that the bill would expand government and burden the PUC, and that local districts need flexibility. The bill failed on a roll call vote, 18-51. The House then passed House Bill 952, the Secretary of State enhancement budget, after debate over restoring a $350,000 voter pamphlet item and including a 2% ongoing general fund reduction. It also passed Senate Bill 1426, the Idaho Transportation Department enhancement budget, and Senate Bill 1427, the Department of Lands enhancement budget, both after brief explanations of the funding items. The House recessed, returned, processed additional Senate and House messages, and adjourned until Monday, March 30, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• of that budget proposal, is not really his budget proposal.
• of that budget proposal is not really his budget proposal.
• And I think especially this year, I'm just struck by the budget, the Governor's budget proposal that's
• We are requesting the Legislature to establish a minimum guarantee to fund We are requesting the Legislature
• We are requesting the legislature to establish a minimum guarantee to fund We are requesting the legislature

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• budgets.
• The town budget isn't on budget issues.
• </c> had our our bu budget for the school. had our our bu budget for the school.
• I was at my town budget. Okay, we are increasing our town budget, proposing 7.1%.
• </c><02:20:07.439><c> to</c><02:20:07.680><c> request,</c> what documents to to request to request, what

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That was a request from the peer chair, so okay. You don't expect that to continue?
• back and request approval after the fact.
• So a big part of that is just trying to have a budget that we can stay within. Okay.
• I guess the first question will be, do we anticipate future budgets, federal budgets, having funding
• And I think a lot of our, you know, the majority of our budget is federally funded.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would request members to vote on that. Thank you. Make a motion.
• Seeing 15 hands, a roll call has been requested; a roll call will be granted.
• Is the Met Council able to spend any part of its general budget or discretionary budget on light rail
• Fuel costs are eating into family budgets.
• I move to reconsider and request a roll call.

Transcript Highlights:

• The attorneys who responded to the earlier requests may find themselves with less work.
• Complex requests would likely respond to the less complex requests quickly, but the fees would likely
• to the requests.
• Our request with this bill is to extend that until December 31st of 2027.
• We don't necessarily have to set the funds aside within this budget dynamic.

Bills: HF2048, HF2360, HF2006, HF950, HF912, HF3140, HF2931

Keywords: individual income tax, retirement contributions, tax corrections, annuity contracts, tax year attribution, tax credit, economic development, community investment, data disclosure, Minnesota regulations, tax increment financing, municipal authority, job creation, transferred increment, public hearing, nonresident employees, income tax exemption, Minnesota taxation, employment duties, tax withholding

Transcript Highlights:

• :28.159><c> funds</c><00:01:28.479><c> allocated</c> budget plus additional funds allocated budget plus
• because we're to the budget?
• </c> requests nor receive aid. requests nor receive aid. So<01:54:42.639><c> Mr.
• Um, I think this is a responsible budgeting amendment, and again I request a yes vote.
• I request a roll call.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would request a roll call. Roll call requested. Roll call granted. Anything else?
• </c> budget neutral.
• Uh we are have requested budget neutral.
• I would request a roll call. Roll call requested. Roll call granted. Chairwoman: No.
• </c> request a roll call. Thank you. request a roll call. Thank you.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In April of 2025, the House Health Care Budget Subcommittee sent ACA a letter requesting public records
• So it's been almost a year since that request; you haven't been able to completely fulfill the request
• chair and the Senate budget chair.
• The President of the Senate does not control the budget. The governor does not control the budget.
• Medicaid controls the budget.”

Summary: The committee met to consider a large slate of appointments, with the main discussion centered on the confirmation of Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). Harris testified about her background in state service and outlined agency priorities including Medicaid financial accountability, transparency, managed care oversight, behavioral health redesign, rural health access, workforce recruitment, and use of technology and AI. Senators questioned her extensively about the Hope Florida/Medicaid settlement controversy, opioid settlement-funded advertising campaigns tied to marijuana prevention and the 2024 Amendment 3 election, public records compliance, abortion reporting and enforcement under the Heartbeat Protection Act, managed care denials, value-based purchasing, and Medicaid funding pressures. After debate, the committee voted to recommend her confirmation, with Senator Polsky voting no. The committee then considered Anna Ortega and Robert Payne for the Florida Public Service Commission. Ortega, a current PSC commissioner and former staff advisor, discussed utility regulation, data center load issues, ratepayer protections, transparency in PSC decisions, and lessons from other states. Payne, a former legislator and longtime utility co-op employee, emphasized his technical background and the need to balance utility returns with consumer affordability. Both nominees were confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous votes and recommended favorably to the full Senate. Next, the committee heard from Jeffrey Aaron for reappointment to the Public Employees Relations Commission. Aaron described PERC’s role in public-sector labor disputes and said his work had been upheld in appellate courts without reversal. Senators questioned him about his law firm’s state contracts, his role as chairman of Attorney General James Uthmeier’s PAC, and his connection to the Hope Florida Foundation matter; he declined to discuss the pending investigation. Public testimony included opposition from Florida Voice for the Unborn. The committee nevertheless recommended his confirmation, with several no votes. Finally, the committee approved the remaining appointees on tabs 5 through 46 in a single vote, postponing Dr. John Littell and DCF Secretary Hatch, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 will come to order.
• We did not get a lot of the information that was requested.
• The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 is now adjourned.
• The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee for is now adjourned.
• The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 is now adjourned.

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 met for its 11th and final hearing on a large set of budget items tied to the Senate Democrats’ budget package. The chair highlighted major themes including investments in affordable rental and homeownership programs, full funding for homeless housing programs, oversight and efficiency changes at the Department of General Services, continuation funding for consumer protection and financial regulation programs at the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, and funding for information technology, resilience, and data security. Members also noted the broader budget process and the large volume of testimony and agency follow-up throughout the hearings. During member comments, Senator Smallwood-Cuevas raised concerns about incomplete responses to information requests from departments, said more work is needed to prepare for the Olympics, and urged additional investment in Expo Park and arts and cultural programs, especially near Olympic venues. Senator Cowan praised the transparency of the budget process, the work of staff and agencies, and the subcommittee’s oversight role, while acknowledging some follow-up issues raised by colleagues. Public testimony included support from the California State Association of Counties for fully funding the HAP program at $1 billion and distributing the funds by September 1, and from the Small Business Development Centers for $26 million in GoBiz funding for SIP and TAP loan and technical assistance programs. The committee then voted in blocks on the agenda items: one large block passed unanimously, a second block passed 3-1 with Senator Niello voting no, and items 20 and 42 passed 3-0 with Senator Niello not voting. The hearing then adjourned.